Aug 23, 2012

Report shows 5,000+ multisite churches

The number of congregations that host worship services at more than
one physical location has grown to more than 5,000 in the last decade,
according to a new report.

Researchers say these “multisite” churches, which may share
worshippers across town or many miles apart, are growing at a much
larger pace than traditional megachurches.

Without the burden of additional expensive buildings, congregations
find they grow faster in new places, said Warren Bird, research director
of Leadership Network, who announced his conclusions Tuesday (Aug. 21).

“It’s a combination of both evangelism and saying, ‘People may not come
to this particular building. How can we take where we are to where they
are?’” he told Religion News Service. ...

... Multisite churches have grown from fewer than 200 in 2001 to 1,500 in
2006 to an estimated 3,000 in 2009 to more than 5,000 today. In
comparison, U.S. megachurches have grown from about 50 in 1970 to about
1,650 in 2012 in North America. ...